Kalamazoo Valley Community College Faculty Salaries And Healthcare Costs On The Rise

Kalamazoo Valley Community College faculty members are getting pay raises — but their healthcare costs are rising, too.

After bargaining negotiations, the faculty agreed to comply with Michigan Senate Bill No. 7, which limits the public employer's portion of health insurance benefits to 80 percent.

KVCC Human Resources Vice President Sandy Bohnet, who is the chief negotiator for the administration, said KVCC employees do not pay premiums because the college is self-insured and pays health costs based on actual claims. As of Jan. 1, 2012, all employees will need to pay 20 percent of their health care costs.

"I can't say what they are paying now because it's not premium-based," she said. "All of our employees will be paying more than what they were paying today."